Does Radiation Cause Malignant Diseases?

Researchers tried to find out whether diseases and death of Chernobyl liquidators depended on the year they participated in the clean-up. Chernobyl liquidators most often died of blood circulation dysfunctions (48%) and malignant growths (30%). More than half of first group deaths (55%) happened due to coronary heart disease. Lung (27.8 %) and stomach (17.1 %) cancers were predominant among oncological death causes. Average death age was 51 years.

The majority of deceased was detected in the group of Chernobyl liquidators, who started operation in 1986. The less time liquidators spent working, the less of them died.

Scientists discovered an interesting phenomenon – cancer deaths much oftener happened among those, whose exposure dose was less than 10 Roentgen. Researchers expected direct correlation between exposure dose and tumor growth, but radiation appeared to have no further effect on malignant diseases’ appearance.

However, direct correlation has been detected in case of deaths, caused by blood circulation dysfunctions.